The year in books :: December

Another month goes by but the reading bug has returned. Once again I have no idea why. Most probably it’s to do with the engaging books I have read rather than any great change in circumstance.

The first book I read in November was Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith (aka JK Rowling). I love this series of books. I love the characters Cormoron Strike and Robin Ellacott and the journeys they take ‘fighting crime’. This one kept me guessing (even if I guessed right) and it was the right mixture of scray gore with sensible storytelling. Cannot wait until the next one!

The second book I read is by an old favourite author, Ian Rankin. This, the 20^th Rebus book, ‘Only Dogs in the Wild’ was another ‘unputdownable’ read. The characters he’s created in Rebus, Clarke and Cafferty along with relative newcomer Fox sustain any story. This story brings together two old rivals in Rebus and Cafferty and mixes the old and the new in their lives. A really good Rebus read.

For this month of December I’m going to try again at the Kate Atkinson novel ‘A God in Ruins’ and possibly an Agatha Christie I’ve found in the depths of my kindle. You never know what's going to happen though best laid plans and all that!

Joining in with Laura.

The year in books :: November

It's been a strange couple of months. It's been a busy time so my reading has suffered, or so I thought.  Too tired at the end of the day to muster any enthusiasm for fiction I've been reading through my recipe books or a magazine. I surprised myself with the number titles I looked at. Craft books (gaining more inspiration and adding to the ever lengthening list of potential makes) and food books (the new Nigella, to name one)  have been the staple (as well the numerous children's stories/school books I've read/listened to) until recently...
I charged my kindle and found a book had been delivered that I was waiting for....in fact now we're into November there's another waiting.
So, I'm currently reading Robert Galbraith - Career of Evil. It's the third in the series with Cormoran Strike at the centre and so far, so good. Still to come in November is one of my favourite authors, Ian Rankin. He has a new Rebus book out now and waiting for me on my kindle (along with loads of others!!)...so that'll be November I think. Here's hoping I can keep up with the reading...

The year in books :: September

Once again I’m a bit late this month. It’s been steady progress for me reading wise …

Firstly I read Tana French’s ‘The Secret Place’. I’m now waiting for her to write a new book. I enjoyed this but perhaps not as much as some of her other work. The story is set in a boarding school so with the overtones of Mallory Towers in my head I set off on the journey. This time we revisit Frank Mackey through his daughter Holly - who attends the school where the unsolved murder has occurred. I found the story and excellent read but I was a little bit disappointed with the ending. Just a little. Just me?

Secondly I read the second book from Tony Parsons in his new guise as a crime writer. I enjoyed it. It wasn’t too taxing with too many plot twists and turns to remember, the story trundled onwards interspersed with the development of his main character Max Wolfe. I think this series was set to be a trilogy but I imagine that if they sell well there could be more.

For September I plan to read The Magpies – Mark Edwards and a huge number of craft books as I’ve just ordered 5 from Amazon’s second hand bookshop!!

Joining in again with Laura. 

The year in books :: August

So the summer continues apace. July was a good reading month for me in both volume and quality.

I loved Tana French's 'Broken Harbour' - I really like her characterisations. So much so I've ordered The Secret Place for this August's reading (....I know, I know I'm a bit late...I may have started it). I'm also planning to read The Magpies by Mark Edwards, I'm just not feeling Kate Atkinson yet!

I read the fabulous 'I let you go' by Clare Mackintosh. A first book from a new author and a brilliant thriller (and part of the Richard and Judy book club- that might put some people off - not the reason I read it but it wouldn't put me off).
For me, this was as good as 'The girl on the train'. I loved it. It kept me guessing and the end wasn't a let down! What more can you ask for?

My third book this month was 'Bad Mother' (Esther Walker). I really love her blog Recipe Rifle and her other writing so it was opportune I saw this when browsing kindle books, it's just so easy to click 'download now'. She writes honestly about her experience(s) with her young children and with humour (and a bit of swearing). It was worth the 99p!

As a change to normal bedtime shenanigans, we're trying out chapter books for BigR. The first being 'Charlotte's Web'. Now, it's as good as I remember but....I've read ahead and I don't remember the denouement being as heartbreaking. Maybe not the best thing for bedtime!! The next one I think we'll go for is 'Stig of the Dump'.

I've been reading some of my birthday presents too. Of course these are food related. I was lucky enough to receive Diane Henry's 'Cook Simple', Rachel Allen's 'All Things Sweet' and the River Cottage Preserving book. Plenty for me to try out soon.

Joining in with Laura

The year in books :: July

Yes, I finally finished The Apologist. I actually really enjoyed it. The premise being that Mark, the lead character feel he needs to atone for all the bad things he's done in his life (from giving a restaurant a bad review to how badly he treated his first girlfriend) and his apologies are so heartfelt he's recruited by the United Nations as their chief apologist....

This month I also starting reading the next in the Tana French series of books "Broken Harbour". Although that'll be extended into July it's looking good so far. I really enjoy her characterisations and I'm intrigued to know whodunit!!

I decided I'd save the new Kate Atkinson until we (hopefully) go on holiday and also have another Rachel Abbott "Stranger Child" and a set of three short stories by Simon Kernick to keep me quiet this month....obviously this is subject to change on my whim!!! I migth also get the last Tan French book too. Need to have plenty of reading matter to choose form on holidays.

Last month, I also said I'd be talking about other things I have been reading. Well, for work I've been working my way through "Transformative dimensions of adult learning" and "Learning as Transformation" both by Jack Mezirow. It's as accessible as it sounds, although the concepts are interesting I'm finding the book itself tough going!
More to my taste is my bedtime leafing through Tender vol I (Nigel Slater) and Hugh FW's Everyday Veg. The cauliflower and chickpea curry looks very good (and doesn't involve the oven on these hot days!).

An aside - (whilst browsing for new books on my kindle the other day I was delighted to see the new Robert Galbraith book is out in October. It'll be here in no time!! That's October sorted then!)

The year in books :: June

Once again (here come the excuses) I've not actually finished a 'reading' book. I'm halfway through Jay Rayner's 'The Apologist' and good though it is, it's not been completed. I've been busily reading cookery and other food books in search of some inspiration to go beyond our usual dishes and also gaining inspiration form craft books at all the thinks I could make in my free time (hahahahaha).

This got me thinking about what I consider reading. In fact, I have, actually read a lot this month...but just not what I consider a proper 'reading' book.

In June I aim to
:: finish The Apologist
:: Read A God In Ruins
:: Write down all the other books/magazines I read to see what else I get up to!

Joining in with Laura.

The year in books :: May

Well it was a little better this month on the reading front. I managed to two novels. The first was 'girl on a Train' by Paula Hawkins, such an excellent premise to the story of a girl imagining the life of people she observes in their gardens and houses on her commute. Of course, it gets a little more complicated than this as it transpires she used to live on the street she observes and imagines and then one of the women she sees goes missing...
I was gripped. It was 'light' enough to keep my (sleep deprived) attention but gripping enough to draw me into the story.

The second novel was the new one by Mark Billingham. I really enjoy his Tom Thorne novels and again this was no exception.The last couple of novels have taken Thorne away from his job in the met but still 'fighting crime'. This one appealed to my more gruesome side! I'm hoping they'll make some more of them for TV - David Morrissey, in my mind is a super Tom Thorne.

So not bad for April.
In May I'm hoping to read Jay Rayner's novel The Apologist and Kate Atkinson's new book (when it's published...very excited!!).

Joining in with Laura.

The year in books :: March

Another month flies by. I actually read the 2 books I planned to read. And the 2 books I planned to read were good ones.

Sleep Tight - Rachel Abbott was a thriller about Olivia who rings the police as her husband and children have disappeared. " years later it is Olivia and her children who have disappeared leaving her husband distraught. Things aren't always as they seem and this was a really good read. I'm looking forward to trying some of her other books soon.

My second book for February was Mark Edwards - Because She Loves Me. Again a thriller, focussing on a chance meeting between Andrew and Charlie and what happens as they develop their relationship. Once more I sped through this and will be looking out for some of his other work.

This month, I've selected 3 books to choose from. I doubt I'll get all the way through the list but it gives me a bit of flexibility if I can't get into one...

OxCrimes - a selection of short stories by many crime authors including Mark Billingham, Val McDermid and Ann Cleeves. The Ox bit is for Oxfam as sales of the book raise funds for it. There have been a couple of other short stories books for Oxfam including OxTravels and OxTales.

The Kashmir Shawl - Rosie Thomas has been in my kindle feed for ages just waiting to be picked up. March is that month.

My final choice is Elizabeth is Missing - Emma Healey. I read a few good reviews of this and thought I'd give it a try.

Let's see how we go.

Once again joining in with Laura.

The year in books - February

January saw me finish my intended read. I really enjoyed Maggie O’Farrell’s “Instructions for a Heatwave”. It was an interesting book to read during our coldest spell of the winter. All of the descriptions of the warm summer of 1976 (which I have vague memories of, a washing up bowl of water and the grass under my three year old feet) were totally at odds with January’s weather.

I didn't manage anything else, other than the usual reading of recipe books at bedtime.

February has gotten off to a good start on the reading front. I’m aiming to read 2 books this month; “Because She Loves Me” by Mark Edwards and “Sleep Tight” by Rachel Abbott.

Let’s see how I get on.

Joining in with Laura.

The year in books - January

Well my reading in December didn’t go exactly as planned…

I did read Into the Woods by Tana French. Halfway through I was so enjoying this book I downloaded the next one to my kindle. I really had to hold off from downloading them all right away.

So December consisted of 2 Tana French books…Into the Woods and The likeness. I really, really enjoyed these books and am so pleased Jennifer put her latest one on her blog and gave me pause to consider them! I found the way she develops her characters intriguing and I like how the books are connected but not dependent on each other. I’m holding off binging on all of her novels so I can look forward to the next pones…I also finally finished Stephen Fry’s autobiography. It wasn’t as good as his other stuff. ‘Nuff said.

So this month, and yes I understand it being almost February, I’ve been reading Maggie O’Farrell’s “Instructions for a Heatwave” and plan to read Jay Rayner’s “The Apologist” and potentially a new Simon Kernick novel... If I can stop myself from the third Tana French book…..

The year in books :: December

Once again I’m joining in with Laura for her year in books. This link up has really helped me get back into reading after having my second child and given me lots of ideas for new authors to read, as well as reminding me of old favourites.

So in November I read:

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves – Karen Joy Fowler

A really wonderful read with lots of interesting ideas. I was and wasn't surprised by the story and the way she linked all the elements. Intriguing. 

The Murder Bag – Tony Parsons

I've really enjoyed a few of Tony Parson’s novels and this is his first foray into crime. I do like a crime thriller and this was really good…just on the right side of graphic without being too extreme it kept me guessing. I liked the characters he developed in this one and hope to see them again in  new books in the future.

Football Manager Stole My Life – Iain Macintosh

A very quick read about the intricacies of playing football manager and the people around them. 'Nuff said.

So my choices for December are:

• In The Woods – Tana French - An author suggested by Jennifer. I've started this and it’s looking very promising!
• Instructions For A Heatwave – Maggie O’Farrell
• The Apologist – Jay Rayner

Not very festive reads but hopefully good nonetheless!

Here’s to more reading in 2015!!

The year in books - November

Another good month on the reading front.

I finished the first of the Cazalet series and loved it, Whats not to like about real family drama. I'm planning to download the rest but I'm going to have a rest from them in November.

I found out there was a sequel to a book I read (and loved) earlier in the year, The Rosie Project. I read about in the comments of someone else's a year in books post...but I can't remember where and now can't find it!!

Anyway, 'The Rosie Effect' was my second book of October. I really enjoyed this book too, although it felt more rushed than the first book. I read an interview with Graeme Simsion who said the first book took him more than a year to perfect and get Don's voice right and the second book came much more quickly. In some ways it showed. There were some really good moments in this book but I found Rosie's character a little stilted (and not the woman she was in the first novel which can't just be explained away by her pregnancy) and the plot a little more obvious. In some ways this shouldn't be a great surprise we know the formula for this sort of story. In spite of these actually very minor complaints, I'll be reading the third book which is surely going to happen.

I'm still reading Stephen Fry's autobiography. It's a little (a lot) self indulgent and although I usually find his writing style fluent and very readable, I'm just not into it this month. I'll be continuing with this in November.

Also in November I'll be reading "We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves" Karen Joy Fowler.

Joining in with Laura.

I am. I try to be. I am not.

I am

• Cold – all of a sudden it’s Autumn and Autumn with a vengeance. The sandals are gone. I need to get some new socks and dig out my boots.
• Enjoying days out – We went to the zoo at the weekend. LittleR was so, so, so excited to see a real elephant!
• Going on another cookery course next week. I've not really challenged myself with technique but chosen things we might like to eat again in the future. I’m still using the goulash recipe I learnt a while ago very regularly.
• Making lists. Of things I need to do at work. Of things I need to remember to do at home. Of things to make. Of ideas for things for the blog. Of books to read and books I've read. Of stuff to cook. Suddenly realising there’s a name for all the info keeping – a commonplace book.
• Reading lots. I've found my mojo again I think. And I've lots of new book ideas from Laura and the year in books.
• In awe that people can actually read. BigR is doing phonics at school. She’s blazing a trail in phonics and I’m struggling to keep up – letter sounds, blending, and the songs…I keep using the wrong tune with the rhyme!! Learning to read is really hard – especially for the parents!!

I try to be

• Patient. In all aspects of my life but especially with small children.  I’m finding it hard to moderate my voice and not let the frustration show. I know I’m not the only one attempting  to get shoes/uniform on, hair sorted toys off the middle of the stairs all in the 2 minutes before we leave the house. I have to remind myself that BigR is only five. And might need to be told more than once with extreme patience.
• On top of things and I think I’m getting there. Term started, my admin support went off sick and my Mum had surgery. I was super busy at work and then really tired. The kind of tired that creeps up on you and you fall asleep with the light on and wake up at 1am and have to get up out of bed to turn stuff off. I've been absent from here and from commenting and I've missed it. Here's to normal (whatever that is) service being resumed shortly..
•  Happy to be sat outside in the rain at a children’s party. Still it was better when the other children went home and I got a go. Thank goodness I’d been prescriptive about pelvic floor exercises!!

I am not

• Going to tire of old rom coms. I love You've Got Mail. It’s very good ironing fodder. And full of great (and coffee related) quotes “The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don't know what the hell they're doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: Tall. Decaf. Cappuccino.”
• Able to remember how to join the initial circle in a granny square and then start the next row. I'll have to youtube it.
• Able to stop buying new mugs. This one is particularly comfy in the hand.

• Going to finish Christina’s sock pattern (I'm on January!) before the end of the year. I’m just not going quickly enough.

I saw this great post from Jennifer and then this good one from Leanne and felt it was a good way to ease back in.

The year in books - September

Well August came and went in what seemed to be a flash. With that went my reading too. I seem to have fallen off the reading horse. No books finished at all in August (unless you count hundreds and hundreds of children’s stories...no? Oh OK).

Well a fresh new start for September. I’ve already said how much I love this time of year. This September I will be reading the new Ann Cleeves novel in the ‘Shetland’ series 'Thin Air' (which is published tomorrow) and also finishing the Elizabeth Jane Howard novel (it’s good so I don’t know what happened to me!) I started in August.

Once again joining in with Laura and the Year in Books.

The year in books - August

I always knew July would be a difficult reading month. Especially if it was sunny (which it was in these parts). Please, let me get the excuses in first. The ABO and I both have birthdays in July and our anniversary so evenings spent reading might be spent making cakes or wrapping presents or, gasp, going out!!

In July I read most of ‘The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed out of the Window and Disappeared’ (I cheated and finished it just into August). I really enjoyed the ride this book provided. It was utterly unbelievable and completely ridiculous but all the better for it. I wondered if one man could meet so many characters through history on his journey back to Sweden!  As a translated novel it stands the translation very well and the humour definitely travels.

For August I’ve chosen an Elizabeth Jane Howard novel. I read ‘Odd Girl Out’ a couple of years ago and loved it so after seeing some readers here choosing her novels I thought I’d dig out ‘The Light Years’. If I get through that I’ll return back to a thriller and read the latest Simon Kernick.

Joining in with Laura.

(once again the picture has nothing to do with the post...I love stained glass. Please excuse the building work outside!!!)

A year in books :: July

I had (yet another) bumper month for reading in June. I think not much being on TV accounts for it really. I really like football but I'm a club not country kinda girl (plus England were woeful) and can read whilst its on...

So this months books were:

After You'd Gone - Maggie O'Farrell... I loved this book. I so enjoyed the interwoven story and her writing style really brings the characters and the situations alive. I have to say once again it made me cry, but I was truly moved by the writing.

The Bones Beneath - Mark Billingham...Tom Thorne back again and this time not in London. Definite twist to this one and of course you have to suspend a little bit of belief but a thoroughly good read. I think of David Morrissey as Thorne and it's a good fit. I hope he films some more of these.

A set of 3 short stories by Simon Kernick - super fast and superb story telling. This was billed as 3 interlinked short stories in the sort of way you would 'tune in next week to see what happened' (says Kernick) each being published a week apart. I saved them til they were all there and could be devoured in one go!

The Silkworm - Robert Galbraith...this arrived on my kindle serendipitously just as I finished the 3 Simon Kernick short stories. I'd forgotten I'd preordered it. What a great story and good writing. It's the second Cormoran Strike novel from JK Rowling who is writing here as Robert Galbraith. I really enjoyed the first novel and this continues on from that some months later. Cororan Strike is a really interesting character but more than him is his 'assistant' (for want of a better expression), Robin without whom he couldn't function (figuratively and literally I think we'll see in coming books). So in spite of his fractured personal life he manages to get to the root of the problem where others fail.

So for July's choices:

The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared - Jonas Jonasson

OxCrimes - various... Suggested by Ailsa am looking forward to this and also to seeing if it gets me into any new authors.

And then if I have any time/effort left in me...

Stay Alive - Simon Kernick...we'll see how I get on with this one. Another crime novel. I really like his quick paced style. Short chapters, keeping the action moving. It's a real book (so I can take a snap of it), as opposed to being on my kindle. So I need to carry it with me and also have the light on to read it. It might take a bit longer this one...

Joining in with Laura